In celebration of International Youth Day under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, Power Learn Project Africa (PLP), in partnership with HEVA Fund and UN Women, hosted the CODEHER 2025 International Youth Day Celebration & Awards, marking the culmination of a groundbreaking 24-hour Pan-African Women’s Hackathon held on 30 July. This flagship Pan-African women’s hackathon brought together 54 young women, working in 18 teams, to design real-world digital solutions in the creative and platform economy. The event brought together partners, innovators, and thought leaders to spotlight the talent, resilience, and creativity of young women in technology.
Globally, women hold less than 30% of tech roles, with an even smaller fraction in leadership and innovation spaces. In Africa, this gap is compounded by limited access to training, mentorship, and networks. CODEHER is changing this reality by providing a dedicated platform for women to design solutions, collaborate with peers, and connect with industry.
This year’s hackathon saw 18 all-women teams, representing Kenya, develop six high-impact solutions addressing challenges in the creative and platform economy. Guided by mentorship from leading industry professionals, participants worked through the night, demonstrating both technical skill and social impact vision.
Three winning teams were announced today, with the top innovators securing internship opportunities at HEVA Fund to further develop their solutions. Notably, one of the winning teams included a graduate of UN Women’s African Girls Can Code Initiative, who finished in second place, a testament to the power of long-term investment in young women’s skills.
“Empowering African women to lead in the creative and platform economies means unlocking the continent’s next wave of innovation and growth,” said Mumbi Ndung’u, Executive Director of Power Learn Project Africa. “On International Youth Day, we’re reminded that empowering young women with skills, networks, and opportunities creates ripples of change in their communities, in our economies, and in the continent’s future.”
Kendi Kamwambia, Operations Partner at HEVA Fund, reinforced the importance of real-world opportunities: “Innovation thrives when given space to grow. By offering internships to the top CODEHER teams, we are not just recognising their talent, we are investing in ideas that can transform Africa’s creative and gig economies.”
From UN Women, Sebastian Gatimu, Deputy Country Representative – OiC, reflected on the timeliness of the partnership: “The 2025 International Youth Day theme, ‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,’ resonates deeply with CODEHER. By bringing young women to the forefront of tech innovation, we are advancing gender equality, digital inclusion, and sustainable economic growth. This partnership demonstrates what is possible when we align global goals with local action.”
PLP is calling on corporates, development partners, and industry leaders to join the movement. Opportunities include:
- Offering mentorship to women in tech
- Providing internships and job placements
- Donating resources such as devices, internet access, or software tools
- Partnering on innovation challenges that address real-world needs